World Lung Cancer Day is Aug. 1

Posted on: 7/30/21

Hospitals Helping Patients Quit, a grant program of TSET, would like to help promote World Lung Cancer Day (WLCD) this Aug. 1. WLCD brings awareness to lung cancer and how it impacts people worldwide. Tobacco use is the leading risk factor for lung cancer. Globally, lung cancer is diagnosed in more than 2.2 million people, and accounts for 11% of all cancer diagnoses each year. 

Lung cancer has the highest mortality rate amongst all forms of cancer with an estimated 1.8 million deaths worldwide annually. Oklahoma ranks 46th in the nation for lung cancer screening with only 1.7% of Oklahomans in the high-risk category being screened. Additionally, new cases of lung cancer in Oklahoma are significantly higher than the national average with 67.7 per 100,000 residents being diagnosed each year. Oklahoma is also in the bottom tier in both screening and early diagnosis rates compared to other states. 

Ways to observe World Lung Cancer Day at your hospital:

Promote tobacco cessation resources for your employees and patients. Your employee benefits packages likely cover tobacco cessation medications. 
• In addition to tobacco cessation coverage through insurance, your employees have access to free Oklahoma Tobacco Helpline resources. The Hospitals Helping Patients Quit team can assist you with setting up a proactive referral to the Helpline for your employees. 
• Create an outreach plan to provide education on low dose CT (LDCT) lung cancer screening to employees and patients who are current and former tobacco users to determine their lung cancer risk and whether they should get screened.  
        - ALA Saved by the Scan Campaign
        - ALA Lung Cancer Risk Quiz
• Review your campus tobacco policy and make enhancements if necessary. Smoke free environments not only protect the health of everyone, but also support tobacco users who are trying to quit by limiting their exposure to triggers. 
• Engage in advocacy and education on social media. 
        - The OK to Quit Campaign has created two images, here, and here, sized for social media that can be posted on WLCD. 

If you would like assistance with tobacco free policies or cessation initiatives, Hospital Helping Patients Quit, a grant program of TSET, can help. Click here or email [email protected] for more information. (Meagan Carter)